Hausaland, mostly in modern northern Nigeria, has always been dominated by independent City States. During Medieval times they were situated between the Songhai Empire to the Northwest, the Bornu Empire to the East and the Yorubaland to the South. As these old empires lessened in strength it gave their neighbors room to expand. In Hausaland the various cities along with old inhabitants and new immigrants began to fight among themselves. Old Hausas hated only outsiders more than they hated their neighbors in rival towns.

Throughout the 1500s and 1700s, one town would rise to prominence before another town would replace it in importance. Besides ethnic differences, religion played an important part in the region. The non-Moslem people always maintained strong power both among the leaders and the people of Hausaland. There were always Moslem scholars calling for a jihad against primarily pagan infidels. One jihad would be called because pagan people insisted on wearing the turban and skullcap! It would be one of these scholars, the Shiekh, who would unify Hausaland under the Sokoto Caliphate.

The history of the area can be divided into two distinct eras. One was the poorly recorded pre-Jihad era 1500-1790 and the Jihad/Sokoto Empire era.

People Who Impacted the Sokoto Empire

Hausa = They were regarded as Sudanese by the Fulani whether they were Moslems or not. They were sedentary and established a series of independent City States. They tended to be small in number but well equipped by ‘town armories’. The Hausa armies often sought support among the nomadic Fulani and mercenary Tauregs to increase their numbers.

Fulani = There were three major factions of Fulani, the Toronkawa, the Sullebawa and the ‘Cattle Fulani’. These tended to support local towns whenever practical. They were nomadic by nature. The ‘Cattle Fulani’ faction was grouped in clans but was often noted by a common geographic term rather than an ethnic name. The Toronkawa clans in particular were staunch supporter of Shaikh and his Islamic jihad. The other Fulani were split in their religious beliefs. The various ‘Cattle Fulani’ worshipped spirits that protected their herds.

Taureg = These were fanatical desert tribes from the north. They were divided into four main tribal groupings. Eastern Ulemiden, the Kel Geres, the Itesen and the Kel Owi were the groups. Though they tended to support Gobir rather than the fellow Moslem of Sokoto, if a Taureg blood enemy supported one town, the rival tribes would support another town or faction. The smaller independent faction of Tamesgida was hostile to everyone, Taureg and Sudanese alike. Many of the upper class Tauregs was Moslem freemen, Inelesmen, but many of the lower classes were darker skin subjects, Imgad. The Taureg nobles attempted Taureg dominated jihads but their numbers were too small to be successful without allies.

Sokoto = This refers to the supporters of the Islamic scholar Shaikh. Most but not all were Moslems. A majority of the Moslem followers were ethnically Fulani rather than Hausa. Some were Hausa pagans but strongly anti-Gobir. The Sokoto preference for giving positions to Fulani Moslems would eventually result in revolts by the Hausa, both pagan and Moslem.

Hausaland and the Growth of the Sokoto Caliphate

Introduction
Equipment, Training and Weapons
Tactics and Campaigns
Pre-Jihad Chronology of Hausaland
The Sokoto-Gobirawa War 1804-07
The Sokoto Early Migration Trek
The Sokoto Empire Consolidation Era 1817-1859
Key Personalities of Sokoto and Hausaland
Key Hausa Towns